Elegant Window Treatments

Just like all aspects of interiors design window treatments can vary in style, from simple, casual to formal, elegant and everything in between. Years ago window treatment options would typically have been gathered on a rod, which would be a more casual treatment or a pinch pleated option that looked more formal. The creativity of designers over the years have brought us many more options with board mounts, medallion tops, as well as an almost endless options in decorative hardware for mounting treatments that vary from casual to elegant. Options in pleats and gathers, as well as shaped bottoms have also added to the styles available to consider for your perfect window design.

Elegantly styled window treatments can bring thoughts of a formal living room or dining room, with lots of layers of fabrics in rich folds. With the right design you could achieve an elegant window treatment using a luxurious fabric such as a silk with a great trim or other embellishment on a simple design if that is your preference.

The bathroom in the photo continued the elegant style of the master bedroom. With a double window over the garden tub a single faux wood blind takes care of privacy and gives the illusion of a wide single window. Mounted on a board, turbin-styled swags in a solid faux silk meet in the middle with a tassel trim placed on the bottom. A small swag swoops in the center under the turbin swags. Adding a special touch of elegance, a large metal decorative medallion is a center focus.

The dining room also has a double window treated as a single. For privacy and light control the client wanted a formal look, rather than a wood blind or cellular shade. Sheers with a triple fullness in a light gold color was chosen. On the sides, stationary side panel of persimmon and gold stripe in a shimmering fabric also offer great fullness. Mounted towards the crown molding a reeded decorative pole, with large ornate finials, hold this fabulous top treatment. With the top treatment being mounted so high it visually elongates the window and doesn’t block the natural light that is filtered in through the sheers. The large and spacious embroidered Jacobean pattern in the colors of the stipe on an off-white base of silk was fabricated into this tab top valance. Its shaped bottom almost looks like a crown is emphasized with trim. Using a flat valance, meaning no fullness in the style, you can really appreciate embroidery, contrast of colors, and richness of the fabric itself all adding to the elegance that was desired.

In the two featured window treatments, elegant elements were shown with color, style, hardware, luxurious fabrics, as well as trims and embellishments. In the next article I’ll follow up with examples of more simple, casual window treatment designs.